12/19/2009

The Pens traveled up to Buffalo to take on the Sabres for the first match up of the season and put their 5 game winning streak on the line. With that in mind the Pens looked to keep and simple and play their game against Lalime and the Sabres. Max Talbot returns to the line up after being a healthy scratch for both games against the Flyers. Godard gets a break.

The Sabres start the game in the penalty box as Kaleta goes two for interference. The Pens struggled to set up their first PP and the Sabres kill it off.

Uncharacteristically, the Pens were turning pucks over in the neutral zone tonight.

Orpik literally hands out some Free Candy on Pominville, after sitting him on his arse with a single hand, but he does get called for interference at 7:37.Cookie and Staalsy do a great job of causing havoc for the Sabres on the PP.

Flower makes a great leg save on MacArthur to keep the game at a dead lock, but Tanger takes a hooking penalty to give the Sabres a 5-on-3 at 8:32

Drew Stafford misses a golden opportunity of putting Buffalo ahead after he shanks a shot over a wide open up into the netting. 5-on-3 killed.

Matt Cooke gets a nice looking short handed chance with 2 seconds left on the Sabres PP, Kuni also gets a nice crack at it before killing off the penalty.

KGB puts in a great hard working shift.

TK almost capitalizes on a pretty centering pass from Rupper with a bout 4 minutes left in the first. Lalime directs the pucks away from his net.

Bob Errey continued to warn the Sabres not to wake up Matt Cooke. I thought it was too late at that point.

Pominville finally scores the opening goal after the Pens fail to clear the puck out of the zone. Third crack a charm for the Sabres. [0-1] 15:05. Lydman and MacArthur with the assists.

Staalsy gets a great chance after sick puck movement through the neutral zone around a couple dmen with 3 minutes left in the first.

Flower gets run over by Stafford but no call?

Lalime makes a good pad save on Crosby but gives up the rebound, Sid takes advantage of that and dishes off a beautiful pass to Kunitz who takes a ripper of a shot from the half boards and sneaks it by Lalime with 36 seconds left in the first. [1-1] Sid with the lone helper.Pens end the first period down in the shot department 5-9.

Neutral zone play continued to look shaky for the Pens in the start of the second.

Rivet runs over his own goaltender Lalime while Rupper was taking the puck to the net. Fans wanted a call, but didn’t get one. There was no infraction on Rupp.

Billy G almost cashes in on his own rebound at 16:40 of the second but Lalime deflects the puck away

Lalime makes another nice save on a breaking Letang who received a nice cross ice pass from Cookie.Rivet goes to the sin bin at 4:30 for tripping. Billy G couldn’t make bank on a great set up from Geno to Sid. Sid no dice on the rebound either. Very good looking PP though

A great shift from the Sesame Street line, did everything but score. They were on the ice for about a buck 20.

Kaleta goes after McKee instead on playing the puck, doesn’t get caught but McKee retaliates and gets called for roughing at 8:50.

The Pens struggled to clear the puck out in front of Flower on the PP and finally do as Staalsy and Max go on a short handed rush. Jordo makes a nice pass that bounces off of Max, rolled over Lalime shoulder and down Meyers back. WOW should have been a goal. PP killed.

Flower makes a GREAT save on MacArthur to keep the game tied. Tim Kennedy goes to the sin bin at 14:09 for tripping. Sid almost gets his first of the night, as the puck seemed to go in slow motion behind the net of Lalime. Lalime was trapped in the crease and a great defensive play saved the Sabres of going down by a goal. The Sabres gets a chance after the PP expires for the Pens, Flower stands tall on Tim Connolly.

Staalsy and Cookie go on another break away chance, Jordan put a great shot on net but Lalime gets a piece of the puck with his glove.

Pens end the second period still down in the shot department 8-11. Matt Cooke gets a beautiful chance after a turn about 20 seconds in, but Lalime makes a better save.

Geno goes to the box for tripping at 1:46. Jordo gets another short handed chance, but Lalime throws out the poke check. The Sabres get a rush back down the ice and Connolly is robbed by the glove of Flower.

Sid and Dupes get their opportunity at a short handed rush but the play is broken up. PP killed.

Oh wait Geno back to the box but he just stepped out? Geno goes back into the sin bin at 3:52 for interference for playing the puck while he still in the box. Jay McKee throws a block party and breaks up a Buffalo opportunity. PP killed.

Tenk, in front of the crease, gets a great chance to put the Pens up. Rupper set him up beautifully and Tenks shot hit Lalime right pads and the puck deflects to the outside corner. Luck?

Hecht goes to the sin bin for holding at 6:44. Kuni with a couple good whacks on the doorstep of Lalime after being the receiving end of a Geno slapper.Pens are now 0 for like a million it seems on the PP in the game.

A HUGE play from Mr. Talbot to save a goal on the door step while Flower was down.

Brooks goes to the box for holding at 10:14Fleury makes a nice save on Gaustad as the penalty comes to an end. PP killed.

Kunitz almost capitalizes on another bad angle shot from a sweet pass from Sid standing behind the net.

Pens go on the PP with 3:52 left in the third as MacArthur goes to the box for high sticking, but can’t get anything going.

Cooke goes to the box on a questionable interference call at 17:54.PP killed to the end regulation.

Pens were out shot again in third 11-10.

The Pens start OT skating hard. Gogo and Geno come close to ending it early as Geno deflects a Gogo shot a tad bit wide.

Gogo takes a high sticking penalty though at 1:43.

Craig Adams join the Block party and block a nice shot from the point. PP killed.Lalime makes a last second save on Crosby’s deflection. Oh so close..

Pominville is first up, no good. Letang is first for the Pens and throws a nice shot that goes top shelf on Lalime.Derek Roy is up next from the Sabres. Flower stops him with a poke check that shouldn’t be legal. He probably told Roy to, “Get that weak shit out of here”

Sid goes second for the Pens takes a shot that end up under Lalime and no where to be found. They say Sid’s chance is no good. No review either.

Stafford hopes to tie it up for the Sabres, but falls victim to the Flower

GAME [1-2]

Sabres and Pens both got their fair share of blocked shots tonight

Great showing of Pens fans over the duration of away games thus far this season, rightfully so that Pens fans were ranked #1 by Forbes.com

Geno has been taking a lot of penalties lately, tonight was his 7th consecutive game taking one

Mark Eaton did not return to the game after getting tangled up with Mike Grier on the boards, let's hope Robot is okay

Flower has been UNREAL for the Pens lately

Letang makes the Shoot Outs look too easy

Tonight was the 2nd consecutive night the Pens have gone into a SO

In the end, this game was a duel between both goaltenders with Flower coming out on top